plural homes
1
2
: the social unit formed by a family living together
trying to make a good home for their children
comes from a loving home
3
a
: a familiar or usual setting : congenial environment
also
: the focus of one's domestic attention
home is where the heart is
b
: habitat
the home of the kangaroo
The island is home to many species of birds.
4
a
: a place of origin
salmon returning to their home to spawn
also
: one's own country
having troubles at home and abroad
b
: headquarters sense 2
home of the dance company
5
: an establishment providing residence and care for people with special needs
homes for the elderly
6
: the objective in various games
especially
: home plate
1
: to or at one's place of residence or home (see home entry 1 sense 1a)
told the dog to go home
stayed home all day
2
a
: to a final, closed, or ultimate position
drive a nail home
b
: to or at an ultimate objective (such as a goal or finish line)
fired the puck home
3
: to a vital sensitive core
the truth struck home
1
: of, relating to, or being a place of residence, place of origin, or base of operations
the company's home office
2
: prepared, done, or designed for use in a home (see home entry 1)
home remedies
home cooking
a home entertainment system
3
: operating or occurring in an area that is a headquarters or base of operations
the home team
home games
homed; homing
1
: to go or return to one's place of residence or origin : to go or return home (see home entry 1)
let us home
2
of an animal
: to return accurately to one's native area of place of birth or origin from a distance : to return home
The salmon will home to spawn.
3
: to move to or toward an objective by following a signal or landmark
—usually used with on or in
missiles homing in on a target
mariners … sought the dark spires of Oakland's redwoods to home on—
J. W. Noble
J. W. Noble4
: to proceed or direct attention toward an objective
—usually used with on or in
… researchers will try to home in on what that something is.—Katherine J. Wu
Katherine J. Wu
: to send to or provide with a home
… hidden pools and much wider creeks each of which homed its cranes …—I. L. Idriess
I. L. Idriess
Hone in vs. Home in: Usage Guide
Hone in is commonly used to mean "to move toward or focus attention on an objective," as in "hone in on a solution," but the use is often regarded as an error. The original and recommended phrase is home in, with home meaning "to move to or toward an objective by following a signal or landmark," as in "an arrow homing in on a target" and in the name of the creature known as the homing pigeon. Confusion between the similar-sounding hone and home likely arose because hone is a more familiar verb, and its meanings of "to sharpen or smooth with a whetstone" and "to make more acute, intense, or effective" can seem apt in the context of zeroing in on an objective. Still, careful writers will want to use home in, or zero in, if they want to avoid criticism.
Examples of home in a Sentence
Noun
Right now his home is a small apartment.
People are concerned about protecting their homes.
They have a second home on the lake.
There's no place like home.
I must have left my notes at home.
She made a good home for her husband and children.
The islands are home to many species of birds.
Can you find homes for these files in your office?
Adverb
She called home to say she would be late for dinner.
He's sending money home from a job overseas.
She is on her way home.
It's great to be back home.
I can't wait to come home.
He used a hammer to drive the nail home.
Adjective
She has a happy home life.
Please give us your home phone number.
What is your home address?
The team opens its home season in just two weeks.
Recent Examples on the Web
Richard Newby, Time, 6 Dec. 2025
Utilize Alexa+ to set reminders, place Amazon orders, or control your smart home without lifting a finger.
—Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 6 Dec. 2025
Dan Pompei, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
The tree, a concolor fir, honors Gold Star Families and features more than 2,800 gold stars, as well as ornaments depicting the official bird and flower from each state and territory to celebrate the hope, courage and steadfast spirit that makes America home.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 1 Dec. 2025
Ambarish Karmalkar, The Conversation, 25 Nov. 2025
Spoelstra was not home when the fire broke out as the team was returning from a game in Denver.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Bobby Allyn, NPR, 23 Nov. 2025
The Hurricanes also home wins over Notre Dame, Bethune-Cookman, USF, Florida Stanford and Syracuse as well as a loss to Louisville.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 23 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for home
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Set long before Hell’s invasion of Mars and Earth, the events that kick off the saga, this prequel sees the Doom Slayer face off against the armies of Hell on the alien planet of Argent D’Nur, home of the Night Sentinels.
—Richard Newby, Time, 6 Dec. 2025
Utilize Alexa+ to set reminders, place Amazon orders, or control your smart home without lifting a finger.
—Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 6 Dec. 2025
Adverb
Instead of continuing to try to manufacture passion, Coles retired, went home to Jacksonville and bought bars and food trucks.
—Dan Pompei, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
The tree, a concolor fir, honors Gold Star Families and features more than 2,800 gold stars, as well as ornaments depicting the official bird and flower from each state and territory to celebrate the hope, courage and steadfast spirit that makes America home.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 1 Dec. 2025
Adjective
These regions are home to many people in low-lying coastal areas, including residents of island nations in the Caribbean, such as Jamaica, and the central Pacific, such as the Marshall Islands, that are already experiencing detrimental impacts from rising seas.
—Ambarish Karmalkar, The Conversation, 25 Nov. 2025
Spoelstra was not home when the fire broke out as the team was returning from a game in Denver.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
He's homed in the circular deals between companies.
—Bobby Allyn, NPR, 23 Nov. 2025
The Hurricanes also home wins over Notre Dame, Bethune-Cookman, USF, Florida Stanford and Syracuse as well as a loss to Louisville.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 23 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for home
Cite this Entry
“Home.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/home. Accessed 6 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
home
1 of 4 noun1
a
: the house in which a person or family lives
2
: a family living together in one dwelling
3
: the place where something is usually or naturally found : habitat
the home of the elephant
4
a
: a place of origin
salmon returning to their home to spawn
b
: the country or place where one lives or where one's ancestors lived
5
: a place for the care of persons unable to care for themselves
old people's home
6
: the goal in some games
especially
: home plate
homelike
adjective
-ˌlīk
home
2 of 4 adverb1
: to or at home
went home
2
: to a final, closed, or standard position
drive a nail home
3
: deeply and meaningfully
the truth struck home
home
3 of 4 adjective1
: of, relating to, or being a home
2
: prepared, done, or designed for use in a home
home cooking
3
: happening or operating in a home area
the home team
home
4 of 4 verb
homed; homing
1
: to go or return home
2
: to send to or provide with a home
Etymology
Noun
Middle English hom, from Old English hām "village, home"
Biographical Definition
Home
2 of 2biographical name (2)
William Douglas- 1912–1992 brother of Alec Douglas-Home British dramatist
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